Table 3.

Overview of positive and negative associations of therapist's statements with symptom outcome of the patient, sorted by study

Positive correlation with symptom outcome	Negative correlation with symptom outcome
Approval/reassurance, restatements, questions, and reflection of feelings	Challenge, interpretation, self‐disclosure, and immediacy
Open questions and paraphrasing	Therapist exercises a lot of control
Clarifying, interpreting, and addressing defences present in the session and addressing intrapsychic conflicts	Cognitive changes in the interpersonal context
Protecting utterances
Focus on the historical antecedents of current problems
Support and stabilizing strategies
Focus of the therapist on direct interpersonal change
Exploration of frequent patients' experiences with their parents
Directive, supportive, and partly psychoeducative elements
Focus on the therapeutic relationship in connection with other relationships